Ocean Engng. Vol. 2, pp. 115-116. Pergamon Press 1972. Printed in Great Britain.

AN INDICATING TACHOMETER FOR OCEANOGRAPHIC USE

G. S. COOK
Naval Underwater Systems Center, Newport, Rhode Island 02840
Abstract--An inexpensive commercially available indicating tachometer has been adapted for
use in measuring the rate of descent (or ascent) of oceanographic cable. The tachometer output
(meters per minute when used with a particular meter wheel) can be monitored at a number
of remote stations aboard ship. Calibration of the device in the laboratory shows its accuracy
to be better than -4-I rev/min.
INTRODUCTION
THE ACCURACY and resolution of measurements obtained with salinity-temperature-depth
type systems as well as other underwater systems depends upon the descent rate of the
underwater unit and is especially important when lowering the unit through large gradients.
Typically slower descent rates are used in the upper layers of the ocean where gradients are
relatively large. In the deeper layers, the gradients are much less and a higher descent rate
can be used which can optimize ship time on station. Measurement of these rates, therefore,
can play an important role in determining the effect of sensor lag on the measurement of
the physical parameters (Graefe and Gallagher, 1969; Pingree, 1969).
D E S C R I P T I O N AND USE
The indicating tachometer* consists of a d.c. generator and two (or more) meters with
18 cm (7 in.) scales with a scale range of 0-200 rev/min in 5 rev/min increments and costs
less than $200. The tachometer (Fig. 1) is rigidly attached to one side of a meter wheel1"
1 m in circumference; therefore, revolutions per min are equivalent to meters per min.
The coupling between the tachometer shaft and the meter wheel shaft was accomplished
with a short length of suitable diameter plastic (Tygon R) tubing. Shaft alignment between
tachometer and meter wheel is not critical if this type of coupling is used.
The tachometer generator is housed in a metal container and is sealed except for the
shaft bearings. Applying a liberal amount of silicone-based grease to the shaft bearings
and enclosing the tachometer in a plastic housing (not shown in Fig. 1) provided ample
protection from rain and salt spray.
The read-out meters, enclosed in weatherproof boxes, are connected in series to the
tachometer. Each box is equipped with polarity switches so that readings can be taken in
either the descent or ascent mode. The remote meters can be located at desired stations
aboard the ship anywhere up to 150 m from the tachometer using two-conductor cable.
Typically, one meter is located at the winch operator station and the other in the dry
laboratory for visual monitoring by the cast director.
This device was used at sea during recent acceptance tests of a new system and proved
to be very useful in specifying descent rates to the winch operator so that strong gradients
could be adequately resolved by the system. A knowledge of the descent/ascent rates,
during each cast, is needed to insure that the required accuracy and resolution is not
limited by sensor response time. The d.c. output voltage of the tachometer varies linearly
from 0 V at 0 rev/min to 0.43 V at 200 rev/min (full-scale) and can be recorded on magnetic
tape or strip chart recorders if desired.
*Manufactured by Industrial and Mill Supply Co., 21 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, New
York 11746.
"I'GM Mfg. Co. ~fode1408-11].
115
116 G.S. COOK

The time constants for the sensors of the Bissett-Berman Model 9040-5B system as
taken from the Bissett-Berman manual are:
Conductivity 0.10 sec.
Temperature 0.35 sec.
Sound Velocity 0.10 sec.
Depth 0-10 sec.
A distance constant can be defined as L := U~
where
U = descent rate (m/sec).
= time constant (sec).
Using the above relation, the distance constants for a 0.50 m/sec descent rate is 0.05 m
for T = 0"I sec and 0.175 m for ~ = 0.35 sec.
In determining the distance constant in this manner, it is assumed there is a one-to-one
correspondence between rate of wire out and rate of vertical descent of the underwater unit,
i.e. zero wire angle is assumed. In reality, a wire angle is usually observed. Therefore, the
distance constant determined represents an upper bound. In addition, ship motion precludes
the measurement of fine details in rough sea conditions where the ship heave velocity
may be an order of magnitude larger than the payout rate. However, improved vertical
resolution can be obtained by employing techniques discussed by Graefe and Gallagher
(1969).
This simple method provides a measure of the importance of sensor lag on the measure-
ment of the various parameters by the C/T/D/SV system and can be incorporated in
subsequent data analyses.
Calibration
The indicating tachometer was calibrated in the laboratory for both the descent and
ascent modes in order to determine its capabilities. The calibration procedure was accom-
plished by driving the tachometer with the low speed side of a laboratory stirrer.* The
stirrer shaft and the tachometer shaft were coupled by plastic tubing. Photoelectric pick-off~"
was used to determine shaft speed through an electronic counter in the time interval mode.
The stirrer motor was then adjusted to nine different speeds over the range 0-200 rev/min.
The output of the photoelectric pick-off was recorded at each speed along with the visual
reading of the two meters. At each reading the output voltage of the tachometer was
measured with a null voltmeter.:~
Regression analysis between the measured and visually recorded output of the tacho-
meter produced a near-perfect correlation. This suggests that the limiting factor on accuracy
is the ability of an observer to read the meters.
The manufacturer calibrates the tachometer in the clockwise direction presumably by
adjusting the meters to known (measured) rates. Their contention that recalibration is
necessary if used in the reverse direction is not supported here.
*Fisher Model 43 Dyna-Mix Stirrer.
tGeneral Radio Type 1536-A.
:~Electronic Development Corporation Precision Voltage and Current Standard Model CR.-10.
Acknowledgement This work was supported by Naval Ordnance Systems Command, OR.D 03C-004/
091~)/UF17-552-101.
R.EFER.ENCES
GRAEFE,VOLr,.~Rand BRENTGALLAOrIER.1969. Oceanographic profiling with improved vertical resolution.
J. geophys. Res. 74 (23), 5425.
P~NGREE,R.. D. 1969. Small-scale structure of temperature and salinity near Station Cavall. Deep-Sea Res.
16, 275.
FIG. 1. The tachometer generator is connected to the left side of the meter wheel. Wire-out
indicator is attached to right side of the meter wheel by a flexible shaft. The remote tachometer
indicators are at the top.